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Shoulder rotator cuff repair is a procedure that can relieve pain, increase strength, restore motion, and prevent further injury for people who have torn a shoulder muscle. The rotator cuff consists of four muscles, which facilitate movements like lifting an arm upward, as well as ensure the overall stability of the joint. These muscles can become damaged due to age-related degeneration or repetitive movements, such as those typically made by baseball pitchers and tennis players.
At Florida Medical Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & Spine, Dr. Ira Guttentag recommends conservative, nonsurgical treatments whenever possible for treating rotator cuff injuries, such as slings, steroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy. For more significant rotator cuff repairs that warrant surgery, he may recommend a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure that can provide faster healing and less postoperative pain than traditional, open surgery.
To complete an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery, Dr. Guttentag will typically:
- Insert a lighted camera that is approximately the size of a pencil through a small incision to gain a clear view of the joint interior
- Evaluate the tear as well as any pieces of tendon or debris that could be irritating the joint
- Remove the source of any joint irritants, if possible
- Repair the tendon tear or reattach the tendon to a bone in the joint
Rotator cuff repair surgery can typically be performed on an outpatient basis, with patients returning home on the same day. Several months of physical therapy is often required to help restore the shoulder to full strength.
If you require shoulder rotator cuff repair surgery, contact Florida Medical Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & Spine today.
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